Best Practices & Management Strategies for Law Firm Library & Information Service Centers

Strategic planning in the face of structural change as demands for services and expectations morph in parallel to a changing media world

Date: 25 Feb 2009 - 25 Feb 2009

Location: AMA Executive Conference Center, New York, NY

Dear Information and Library Professional,

In today’s modern law firm, librarians and information resource professionals play an increasingly important part of the service delivery team. Yet Librarians are facing strategic challenges in an ever-shifting market where competitive forces, new media, and information technologies are re-sculpting law firms.

These challenges include redefining the role of the library, integrating with other practice support functions and working strategically with firm management to deliver more value for front-line attorneys and their clients.

As information and technology become synonymous, we find law firms constantly re-engineering their knowledge-sharing environments to increase their ability to take effective action, compete and survive.

It is therefore a given that the role of today’s law firm librarian must continually evolve to meet various new technological, marketing and business development challenges.

With interaction at the forefront, Ark Group/Managing Partner Magazine’s 3rd annual forum on Best Practices & Management Strategies for Law Firm Library & Information Service Centers will once again provide a unique opportunity for meaningful dialogue in an intimate setting – with an undiminished focus placed on extensive audience participation.

As leaders and managers within the profession, several key questions need to be addressed—

  • How do you coordinate with other practice support functions?
  • How do you deal with emerging overlapping roles and responsibilities with other functions?
  • How do you develop a focus on client service goals and profitability?
  • How do information professionals and librarians support the coordination and optimization of knowledge within our firms through their delivery of solutions, services, and improved knowledge processes?
As a key component of the service delivery team, librarians are faced with an opportunity to arm attorneys with the tools to compete in today’s marketplace. As members of practice groups, sales teams, client teams and other strategic initiatives, librarians and information resource professionals are poised to assist in the leadership, development and competitiveness of the modern law firm.

We hope you will join us once again as we candidly discuss and evaluate current opportunities to strengthen the traditional roles of "information/knowledge broker" and to work across silos to encourage appropriate collaboration and coordination for the benefit of the ultimate client - the Firm's clients!

I hope to see you in New York this February,

—Joel Alleyne